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United States Patent | 5,093,858 |
Hird ,   et al. | * March 3, 1992 |
A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.
Inventors: | Hird; John A. (Dallas, TX); Owen; Lindsey D. (Carrollton, TX); Rice; Michael R. (Carrollton, TX) |
Assignee: | Intellicall, Inc. (Carrollton, TX) |
[*] Notice: | The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to June 12, 2007 has been disclaimed. |
Appl. No.: | 536200 |
Filed: | June 11, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: | 379/132; 379/144.02; 379/144.03 |
Intern'l Class: | H04M 017/02 |
Field of Search: | 379/132,91,93,97,144 |
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Exhibits A-N, Various materials compiled by Applicants. Operator Services Systems Generic Requirements (055GR), vol. 3, "Feature Specific Documents", Technical Reference TSY-000271, Calling Card Service, Bell Communications Research, Rev. 3, 3-88. Operator Services Systems Generic Requirements (055GR), vol. 3, "Feature Specific Documents", TSY-000271, Collect Billing, Bell Communications Research, Rev. 3, Mar. '88. |